Persecution?

Persecution for Christ engenders images of torture, beatings, beheadings, crucifixions. In other words, facing a gruesome death if we don’t deny Christ. Many Christians have suffered persecutions throughout the past two thousand years. Even today, in many countries around the world, people are dying rather than denounce Christ. In America and most Western Countries, we don’t suffer persecution.

Or do we?

I think we are also undergoing persecution but it’s much more subtle. It is rarely a threat of physical harm. And maybe the word persecution doesn’t even apply. Nevertheless, we are constantly afforded opportunity to deny Christ in order to preserve our life. Waiting too long in line? Anger. Jesus wouldn’t be angry over something so trivial. Not acknowledged for our wonderful contribution? Jealously, hurt feelings. Again, not Christ like.

A thousand times a day we face the onslaught from the enemy to stick up for ourselves and deny Christ. And most of the times, we choose the self. This isn’t persecution but we are faced with the choice of denying Christ or denying self. The same choice that faces those who are truly persecuted and threatened with death if they don't deny Christ. It too is a choice of denying self or denying Christ.